Ithaca, N.Y. – Powered by a first place finish at 285 pounds by Ben Katz (Medford, N.Y.), the Springfield College wrestling team finished fourth as a team at the 2025 Ithaca Invitational.

Springfield produced a team score of 98 points only behind the host and No. 19 ranked Bombers, No. 9 Castleton University and Penn College of Technology. Ithaca won the meet with 198.5 points.

Katz, the fifth seed at 285, earned a 3-2 decision, a 13-3 major decision and a pair of three point victories en route to the title. Katz upset top-seeded and No. 7 nationally-ranked Evan Day of Castleton in the semifinal round before taking down Kamdyn Dorchester of Ithaca to win the title.

Oliver Parker (Pawtucket, R.I.) finished as the runner-up and Nick Rogers (Watertown, N.Y.) finished in third place at 197 pounds. Parker, the fifth seed in the weight class earned a pair of major decisions over Darren DeJong of Cortland and fourth-seeded Nicholas Woodruff of Penn before earning an 8-5 sudden victory over eight-seeded Kevin Rodriguez of Norwich. Parker was pinned in the third period by champion Ryan Galka of Ithaca in the championship bout. Rogers, was seeded second, as his run was highlighted by a pin of Logan Frank of Castleton before bowing out to Galka. In the back draw, Rogers took down top-seeded Xavier Pommells of Ithaca, 6-5, and third-seed Josh Negron of Castleton by sudden victory.

Springfield was impressive at 165 pounds as first-year Gabriel Thomasson (Norton, Mass.) finished as the runner-up as he pinned Daniel Clark of Penn before earning a major decision over second-seeded Christian Paredes of Cortland and a 4-2 decision over third-seeded Christophe Reddy of Ithaca. Nate Spuhler (Shoreham, N.Y.) followed in fourth place at 165 he took down fifth-seeded David Hammerle of Oswego, 14-7, Thomas Tsoi of Cortland, 8-5 and fourth-seeded Justin Klein of Cortland by pinfall. Spuhler also pinned sixth-seeded Tristian Robinson July of Cortland to reach the third place bout.

At 141 pounds, first-year Isaac Quiles (East Hartford, Conn.) earned a fourth place finish as he reached the semifinals of the main draw following a pin of Viktor Banda of Castleton and a sudden victory win over second-seeded Michael Santore of Oswego. In the back draw he also defeated fifth-seeded Stone Farnsworth of Castleton to reach the third place match.

At 133 pounds, Esuar Ordonez (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) fell in the quarterfinals after pinning Connor KNnight of Penn in just 3:25, but rallied for three wins highlighted by a 17-2 technical fall over Mason Jacobellis (Medford, N.Y.) and a 13-3 major decision over fifth-seeded Blake Dergham of Penn to reach the third place match.
Matthew Hoxie (Nassau, N.Y.) rounded out the highlights for the Pride this weekend with a sixth place finish at 184 pounds. Hoxie earned his spot in the fifth place match following a 19-3 technical fall over Rhojan Monfort of Elmira.

Springfield will host crosstown rival Western New England University for a mat light dual in Blake Arena on Friday night at 7:00 pm.

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